RSS Feed


PERFECT VIEW
Red Moon Rising

Avenue Of Allies (2014)
Rating: 8/10

Italian rockers Perfect View was formed in 2008 by vocalist Max Ordine, guitarist Francesco Cataldo and drummer Luca Ferraresi. Initially the members were inspired by the likes of Winger, Van Halen and Toto, and when their line-up was completed by bassist Cristian Guerzoni and keyboardist Pier Mazzini they began working on their debut platter which emerged in 2010 under the title Hold Your Dreams.

In 2012 Guerzoni left the band and was replaced by Frank Paulis, and with him onboard it’s this line-up which has put together Perfect View’s latest batch of songs, entitled Red Moon Rising.

Now for those of you who think this is going to be a rather low-budget flaky affair, think again because this is one steely, melodic opus full of catchy songs that reach deep inside the heart and soul. To say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement. I’d only heard a few tracks of their previous opus and felt that I couldn’t really judge it just on that snippet, but with Red Moon Rising the band has come up trumps, hinting at the likes of Europe but adding heavier nuances with tracks such as ‘In the Name Of The Father’ providing pure shred heaven for the guitar aficionados among you.

And then there are the gorgeous harmonies which soar out of the chimney into the open sky; ‘I Will Remember’ is a gushing ballad of sublime vocals, while ‘By My Side’ is just a majestic beauty that rolls on forever and ever in the ear canal.

There’s something for everyone here; music fans craving something a tad darker will delight in the weightier tones of ‘Dead End Street’, but if you revel in sweet, sentimentality then you can’t go wrong with the reflective joys of ‘Holdin’ On’.

However, this is no album of simplicity, even though the quintet is masterful at churning out what could be deemed radio-friendly hits. The progressive side is one of the album’s defining qualities, adding a whole new angle to AOR harmonies with ‘Slave To The Empire’ featuring Danger Zone frontman Giacomo Gigantelli on backing vocals and showcasing a jarring, jazzed up drum and cool, sassy riff plus crisp vocals which just cut through like a hot knife into butter.

But of all the tracks which flow into the system, it’s the progressive displays of ‘Room 14’ and a cover of Toto’s ‘Home Of The Brave’ which win by a short head. But c’mon, this is an album that shines throughout, so the least you can do is sit back, relax and watch the red moon rise…

Neil Arnold

<< Back to Album & EP Reviews



Related Posts via Categories
Share